I was anticipating what Budget Secretary, Florencio Abad would have to say about former President Gloria Arroyo’s (GMA’s) “It’s The Economy, Student!”, a paper about her achievements during her nine years in office. But I ended up laughing so hard after reading that the only thing Abad had to say was that President Noynoy Aquino (PNoy) is still popular with the Filipino people. He even said that he won’t bother doing any research in rebutting GMA because “the surveys show high satisfaction ratings of President Aquino.”
Oh goodness me! The Philippines is in big trouble under the Aquino government, indeed. It seems like the current government’s only economic policy is to work on their popularity. They probably think that the perception of “trustworthiness” will be enough to sustain the suspension of disbelief by their supporters until PNoy’s term ends in 2016.
Whatever your views about GMA’s economic policies, there are still things that are undeniable. For one, economic growth at the end of her term, which she claims was at 7.9 percent, had help shield the country from recent history’s worst global financial crisis which hit America and some parts of Europe really hard. Whether you think her figures are a bit exaggerated or not is beside the point, really. The real point is this: Abad might be dismissing GMA as sourgraping now but the 3rd quarter growth rate for 2011 at a measly 3.2 percent under PNoy’s government might not offer the same protection for the country if another financial crisis hits us tomorrow.
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Many people might disagree with GMA’s economic policies. Some might say that she was wrong to adopt the controversial Keynesian economic policy, which refers to big government spending to stimulate the economy. The policy is, in fact, being blamed for the P300 billion budget deficit that she left behind. But it was Senator Edgardo Angara way back in 2010 who said that if she did not pump-prime the economy, it would have contracted like other European nations did. To quote the former Senator in a news report back in June 2010:
“The deficit is part and parcel of public finance management. If the economy grows, the deficit and debt will lessen proportionately”, he said.
Angara said that the country would not have achieved a 7.3-percent growth in the first quarter if Ms Arroyo did not spend that much.
Ms Arroyo has described this as pump-priming the economy.
“If she did not pump-prime, the economy could have contracted”, Angara said.
The deficit that Escudero is going on about might be the biggest but “it was also the biggest economy ever”, said Angara.
In the second quarter of 2007, the economy posted at 7.5 percent the fastest annual growth in 20 years, the highest since the 7.7 percent in the third quarter of 1986, the year the dictator Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown. The economy finished 2007 with a 7.3-percent growth.
Another thing that Secretary Abad is unwilling to refute is that GMA’s government spending translated to infrastructure that the Filipino people are currently enjoying. In her own words she claims to have “built roads and bridges, ports and airports, irrigation and education facilities where they were sorely needed.” The construction of those infrastructure works provided employment to a lot of Filipinos who would have otherwise been either just drinking Red Horse beer around the kanto or lined up at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) bound for contract work abroad.
In response to his predecessor’s and former economics professor’s critique of his leadership skills, PNoy issued the usual motherhood statements during his recent speech at the traditional Vin d’ Honneur for the diplomatic corps at Malacañang. Without giving any details on how exactly he is going to achieve it, PNoy said “the government will continue to sustain the growth of the economy and create opportunities for employment.”
PNoy in his customary triumphalist stance claimed to have made great strides in the fight against corruption and poverty. Never mind that he is also being accused of strong-arming his own allies into getting his way in his efforts to persecute his political enemies — a sign that he may not be above corruption himself. It is too bad PNoy is the kind of guy who has never been a fan of using data to back his claims. Everyone else is left wondering how we can measure his achievements. He simply wants us to take his word for it. His only proof is in another claim that “local and foreign groups have acknowledged the government’s triumphs by investing in the country, by lauding the efforts in open governance and by supporting the programs.”
PNoy boldly stated that “this year we will strengthen the programs that work for our countrymen such as those in education, health, housing and others like our conditional cash transfer program,” a generic goal that any sitting president can declare. In fact, he is not doing anything different that he can claim as his own initiative (apart from going after his perceived political enemies, of course).
The Aquino government’s main assertion is that they are including the poor in their program through their use of the conditional cash transfer program (CCT), which is something that GMA was also doing during her term. However, there are reports that say that despite the dole outs, the hunger incidence is highest since 2009. Here’s something regarding that from The Daily Tribune:
Despite the vaunted cash transfer doleouts or the social welfare department’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) the pang of hunger among Filipino households was recorded at its highest since December 2009 with one in five households saying it experienced a day going by with nothing to eat, the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted between last Sept. 4 and 7 showed.
Despite their criticism of the past administration, PNoy’s government is hardly doing anything to alleviate poverty and strengthen the economy. If they really want to do something different, they should get rid of or at least reduce the amount of unprogrammed and audit free presidential pork barrel fund, which is reportedly equivalent to 15% of the national budget. The pork barrel fund should be the first to go. It is said to be a source of corruption in the legislature.
But obviously it would be very difficult to withdraw or even reduce the yearly pork barrel allocations of our lawmakers. If PNoy reduces the budget on pork barrel, he can also expect the withdrawal of support from Congress. It’s been said that this is how he gets them to do what he wants done. Some members of congress allegedly claim that PNoy used the pork barrel to bribe some congressmen into signing the impeachment bid for Supreme Court Chief Justice, Renato Corona.
PNoy also needs to address the country’s dependence on remittances from overseas contract workers (OFWs). The remittances from OFWS could be helping the economy stay afloat but the remittances are also dependent on the economic conditions of the countries where Filipinos seek employment. When countries like Saudi Arabia stop accepting OFWs for one reason of another, the OFWs will have no choice but to come back home and the spending fuelled by their remittances will likewise stop and adversely affect industries across the country.
The economic policy of exporting laborers to answer our economic woes has to be addressed in the long-term. PNoy is probably thinking that he doesn’t have to work on the economy because he can rely on the remittances anyway, but as a country we cannot be too dependent on OFWs forever. In a study, Canadian professor Prod Laquian concluded that the export of workers has prevented the Philippines from advancing as a self-sustaining nation. He also likens the country to a man who “has become lazy because he receives remittances from a wife working as a domestic worker abroad.”:
He noted that the Philippine government adopted the labor export program in 1974 as a stop-gap measure to ease unemployment and foreign exchange problems.
However, after 37 years, the Philippine economy has become heavily dependent on remittances, he said.
Almost ten million Filipinos are currently working overseas, mostly in North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe, he noted.
Laquian stated that the most serious negative effect of Philippine labor export policies “has been the neglect of domestic production and poor investments in infrastructure, agriculture, mining, export promotion, and social development because of the easy availability of funds from remittances.”
“The country may be likened to a man who has become lazy because he receives remittances from a wife working as a domestic worker abroad,” Laquian said.
“For the government, the easy money from foreign remittances is a major cause of its inability to pursue sound economic development programs,” he added
Like what I have been saying again and again, PNoy has to look at the big picture and not just Gloria Arroyo’s picture. He needs to delete vengeance from his agenda. Persecuting GMA and her so-called cohorts will not solve the unemployment problem. All this talk of fighting corruption is just all smoke and mirrors to deflect from the real issue. Besides, in the end, it doesn’t really matter if PNoy overtakes GMA’s economic growth rate because the country’s population growth, which is said to be at a steady rate of at least 2% annually will eventually knock it out.
If the country’s population keeps growing, any economic growth achieved will not mean much for the additional mouths to feed. And this is the reason why regular folks did not feel GMA’s supposed economic gains during her time. By ignoring the growing population that also affects the deteriorating law and order situation, any government whether past or present cannot be expected to make a dent overall.
So, with regard to addressing the country’s problems, it’s not just the economy, stupid.
In life, things are not always what they seem.
Pnoy’s popularity should not be the one to be focused on.
The more important thing to be focused on should be the economy not POPULARITY, but alas… He is hellbent on removing the obstacles towards his “straight path to dictatorship”
P.S.
Vincenzo, alam ko na magcocomment ka nanaman dito ng walang kakwenta kwenta kaya uunahan na kita
GIVE UP TROLL
Looks like the critter Vincenzo is playing electronic games again.
Aquinomics is popular?
opinion.inquirer.net/12077/aquinomics-no-economics
aquinomics-no-economics
If Vincenzo can bother us. We can bother his tito by probing him in his forums. I found a hidden aquino site dubbed in blue not yellow. Study the enemy of freedom and democracy.
http://www.noynoyaquino.com/
Thanks for the link! Some excerpts:
“What passes for the flagship project in “Aquinomics†is its conditional cash-transfer program, which is mainly a dole for the poor, with the requirement (making it “conditionalâ€) that recipients undertake certain tasks, mainly keeping their children in school. While certainly commendable, it represents not an economic policy but mainly a redistribution of wealth, i.e., the use of taxes to subsidize the poor’s investment in human capital (education).
The program though cannot be sustained, as it depends almost entirely on government’s capability to finance it, which depends on the strength of the economy—which finally will be determined by the success of the administration’s economic policies.”
Aquino economics is “Dr. Tapal economics”…he heals the Philippine economy like an Harbolaryo…tapal, incantations, delusions, etc…
This is on of the reasons why our country sucked: voting people based on POPULARITY. Popularity alone doesn’t lead us to progress. Iyan ang hindi alam ni Noynoy.
Wala siyang maiyayabang na social project in the first place. My father is right on the pork barrel thingy. If some Yellow Zombie come out to me and say “Maraming bilyones ang ninakaw ni Gloria, itaga mo iyan sa utak mo!” Then I’ll ask that troll back: The what do you call Noynoy’s billion-peso pork barrel ‘good governance’? The pork barrel is the source of corruption in the legislature.
Some people think that if their friends are voting for him, they should too. At least they don’t have to use their head.
Well after all popularity voting is FUN IN THE PHILPPINES!
This shows how gullible Filipinos mind are. Telenovelas and artistas for indays and tanduay, videoke and cockfighting for manongs would make the day. Eating 3 times a day would be ok. Economy? what is that? we are morons and we only like artistas…we vote artistas and boxingeros. hahahaha…
I live near the slums here in Mandaluyong, everyday big guys with big guts and tattoos gathered on one corner dringking tanduay, talking about cockfights and cockfighting all day long. They do not care about the economy, they do not even know what is that. They do not know what they are missing like aetas swimming in the river, they are happy but they do not know what they are missing. That is the advantage of moronism.
That’s not a good sight at all. I hate tambays. There’s so much to do!
Hey…we are Wowoowee people…some alrady deteriorated into YellowTards. “Istambays”, or Bums…as they call it in the U.S., is part of our culture…all they do is drink all day, talk nonsense…When I was still there, my dog went outside; he was caught by an “Istambay”, and became their “pulutan”…this is what we are…are we a hopeless people, with hopless mindset and hopeless leaders?…
The dictator EvilNoy’s popularity is likened to a mirage heated up on an empty desert highway by propaganda and manipulated surveys. His black propaganda(lies, trial by publicity))recently increased along with his self-serving statements. This portrays him as a messianic cleanser(Mr. Clean?)against graft and corruption. But wait. Did he not influence the lower house with dangled pork and increased monetary incentives? Is he not also trying the same in the Senate? He also treats his KKKK with impunity. There are witnesses who can testify to this.
The recent hits(below the belt) on CJ Corona are again in the headlines. The senate warned the House prosecution not to do this. Why are they doing it again? Because their master’s voice in Malascanang says so. EvilNoy a.k.a. Mr. Aquino is really a dangerous man. Watch him try to manipulate puppets who sold their souls to the devil of political expediency. This might lead to the final destruction of freedom and democracy. Beware Mr. Aquino of arousing the silent majority.
“Vox populi,vox dei” is total hogwash. I am a law-abiding citizen. I pay my taxes without cheating,I pay my dues to the government, I pay my fines,if I get caught disobeying the law on the road. I get in line at government offices to get what I need without going to fixers or bribing government employees. So, with all these I have one vote, one voice that is drowned out by MORONS who are easily swayed by actors and actresses and other popular figures to vote for the other MORON to lead them. So, where the hell does that lead me to? Suffer under the leadership of the POPULAR bipolar, OC? What a life!
People should be prepared for the worst case scenario. I heard that there is a looming oil crisis due the situation in Iran. There might be a spike in oil prices and a possible fuel emergency that might require rationing.
Proactive
It would be interesting to see Pnoy’s reaction if such scenario does happen. Who will be the scapegoat this time?
Ey Ilda… i just want to know why i’ve been blocked at the getreal facebook community at the time when you’ve included benignO.
Hi Jet
I will check it out. What name do you use on Facebook? I can’t even see you there.
I never thought I’d say this, but I miss the early days of martial law.
I cannot relate. 🙂
FDI down 25% in 2011
Exports down 20%
Self-assessed poverty up
Commodity prices up
PPP – a non-starter
Growth continually revised down – now 3.2%
The list goes on and on
They have no ideas and are running out of excuses.
And dont even have the ability to talk/debate ‘economics’ so always veer away from the subject with flippant/idiotic comments and the propaganda that everything is getting better! Delusional or just shameless liars.
It seems like the only data they recognise is that one from SWS and Pulse Asia survey firms.
I try to listen to pnoy and his goons whenever they “sell” new policies or boast good news to the public, but I only hear motherhood statements all the timeee. It’s VERY irritating. If I had the time, I’ll compile all their quotes like this: “the government will continue to sustain the growth of the economy and create opportunities for employment.â€
What will his admin sustain? what opportunities? Details matter. It’s too obvious that there’s no plan.
Share your compilation with us when you are done. 🙂
Find the quote about these guys referencing Goldman and Sachs saying that at the rate the Philippines economy is going, they are going to be a first world country by 2050. In as long the rate can be sustained. WELP. Considering the total inconsistency of the Philippine economy due to current policies and the politicians that continue to pocket the money for themselves, they can push that date to ‘indefinite’. Meanwhile, in 2050 the rest of Asia would have followed the flow of China.
If the current trends really point toward that direction… I wonder if every one else realizes that time would come even sooner if we all do our part.
But then again given the fatalistic attitudes of most Filipinos…
The world would be lucky to make it through 2012 unscathed. Maybe it would be a different end of the world. An economic ending?
Just because you’re popular that doesn’t mean you’re better. One fine example is Justin Bieber, he’s popular and he sucks big time and also he has a retarded fan base similar to yellow zombies. On the other hand people who doesn’t like his’ music aren’t brainwashed and also they have a good taste in music just like the people who doesn’t like Aquino.
True…
This quote if for the dictator Mr. Aquino:
“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor, he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.
-Marcus Tullius Cicero
Creepy. But is actually happening now.
Penoy is an embodiment of the worst in governance.
very apt
Very true!
Popularity these days tends to be a measure of how well you can fool the people.
Let us stop deluding ourselves that Baldy is popular.This great myth was only propagated by the SWS surveys which we know give manipulated results and by the sipsip advisers and lapdogs, particularly the yellow media. They have done that to us during the Cory regime which also plunged the country to its worst economic crash. And the yellows even want to declare her a saint! Good Lord! Now the son is doing the same to us and we are allowing it. Let him delude himself. Remember the fable: The Emperor”s New Clothes.
You know the country is in deep sh_t when the President says he is still popular but uses survey firms owned and operated by his family and friends!
That’s the power of propaganda As much as you hate propaganda you can’t deny it’s effectiveness on making the people believe what they want to believe.
Scary.
Tama. Dahil mas nakakabusog ang popularity ratings kaysa economic growth rate.
Popularity does not equals to competence. The fact is that a person who uses popularity as a measure of success shows that the person has nothing else to show
A word of caution to Pnoy, to sustain popularity one has to maintain it to the point of exhausting whatever means that person uses. If Pnoy is using pork barrel as a means to make congress favorable to his view and the fact that he is spending a whole lot of money for PR tactics he might as well drain the state’s coffers.
And also there’s the fact that he is more or less ignorant on how to plan our economy’s growth.
It’s just LESS.
On his competency to govern and Hacienda Luisita:
“Politics, noun. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.”
-Ambrose Bierce, the Devil’s Dictionary
On the treatment of his tyranny and dictatorship:
“I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”-Thomas Jefferson
On the defense of our freedoms:
“How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms; By truth when it is attacked by lies; by democratic faith when it is attacked by authoritarian dogma. Always in the final act, by determination and faith.-Archibald Macleish
“He needs to delete vengeance from his agenda. Persecuting GMA and her so-called cohorts. . .”
Vengeance, no. PNoy ran and won the presidency with the anti-corruption platform. He has to deliver on that, even if that’s the only promise he could fulfill.
If the surveys are accurate, then the Filipino people are quite satisfied, so far, with his agenda.
Promise ha?
If the surveys are accurate, then the Filipino people are idiots with no sense of self-preservation.
Mr. Aquino’s anti-corruption platform is a flawed double standard. One standard of propaganda, hate, etc. against his perceived enemies and stumbling blocks to his HLI/dictatorship. Another standard of immunity and impunity for his KKK.
@Der Fuhrer I totally agree.
It’s ok to go after corrupt individuals but he should do it within the bounds of the law. Don’t forget that Cory Aquino already did the same thing during her term. It didn’t stop corruption.
in short, abad’s response is “ah basta!”
hays…
heard hsbc say that the country will be one of the top economies by year 2050 and one reason they gave is the growing population. so… would this mean the rh bill will not help us achieve this? (regardless, i guess i will be too old to enjoy this economy by then).
A big population is only good if majority are skilled and employable. That’s not the case in the Philippines.
today noynoys official facebook has been temporarily suspended due to the number of adverse comments being posted – referred to as spamming by malacanan!
suppress the bad news – make up good news instead.
the tide is turning.
expect more good news propaganda and surveys aplenty in the next month
I thought it was activated already? I’ve been posting there too.
The Philippines has now deteriorated to a basket case in Asia. Cambodia is more progressive. Vietnam also.
The OFW slave/ Drug Mules projects of Noynoy Aquino and Binay, are Band-Aid solutions, to a chronically ill economy. How can our industries be developed, if we export our technical people and our brains? Some very educated people, I’ve talked to, told me: “there’s no hope in staying in the Philippine”…
A few are too rich, while almost 90% are too poor. No middle class. If you call those OFW slaves/ Drug Mules middle class…you’re just deluding yourself…
Our leaders have no vision, so we all will perish…
All Noynoy Aquino do is persecute his political enemies; divert our attentions; scheme to monopolize power; protect his Hacienda Luisita; and become partners with the Oligarchs in exploiting the Filipinos…
OFWs: band aid solution, indeed.
popularity > economic growth? *facepalm*
for me, if this is a product, being popular meant that the product is doing something right because people are liking it… or because it’s just a trend… and trends change. what will happen if this popularity disappears? I don’t suppose they’ll say “the people still like us, see it for yourselves in Facebook”.
His popularity is manufactured. He just says what people want to hear. He is not preparing people for rainy days. He keeps projecting an image that everything is ok. Sige sya. He is just a crisis away from being exposed as a pretender.
Again my dear don’t get your hopes too high. If a crisis does occur he can simply use the glamor of propaganda to blame some else for said crisis and considering the IQ of those affected by yellophilism they fall for it hook, line and sinker.
On a lighter view don’t lose hope just don’t get it too high though.
I’ve never seen a government work like this before. (maybe because I really haven’t followed politics until recently, do fill me in if I’m right in saying that)
Pnoy’s propaganda crew can and will hide the truth to everyone to make him look good if a crisis happens and that’s a scary thought because I’m sure a lot will believe whatever they publish. But they can only hide so much until the bad effects are too evident that everyone won’t be able to deny it.
GMA to Pnoy – Kapal ng mukha mo. Kinopya mo lang mga programa at polisiya ko, pinakulong mo pa ako.
mismo.
Taking credit is a horrible way. Sabihin mo na “Magnanakaw si Gloria”, well, magnanakaw si Noynoy – magnanakaw ng ACHIEVEMENTS!
Well what did you expect? He doesn’t have any achievements so he has to either steal or fabricate his own achievements.
Should worse come to worse… the dictatorship will now control all three branches of government. Mr. Aquino will control everything and will suppress all opposition. The same straight and wide path as was done to his perceived enemies will be applied.
Hacienda Luisita will not be subject to land reform. Many know that Mr. Aquino has an alliance with left of center personalities and organizations. As I said before, the left of center associations of Mr. Aquino might influence the peasants in HLI. If Mr. Aquino is truly for democracy he would lose the leftist association ASAP.
A growing alliance and association with leftist personalities and groups will not be good for a democracy. Informal power sharing will soon give way to a formal arrangement. God forbid it never happens… A socialist republic of the Philippines or an Indonesian scenario(infiltration of communists in government) leading to bloody civil war.
Unfortunately, majority of Filipinos are like frogs unaware that they are being boiled alive.
I’m trying to wrap my head around this idea because I’m not that well-versed with this topic.
I’m thinking before that if Aquino manages to unite the branches, there would be change for the country for sure, but then the objectives of this “united” government won’t be for the good of the country since he (and his “enterprise”) will run the country like a business and people will have more problems with everyday living.
yes, we need a united government to make sure that the wheels of change rolls forward to make things better for our country but do we really have someone like that? I remember reading in here how Singapore took this path and they ended up OK.
please correct me if my assumptions are wrong.
“but do we really have someone like that?”
I agree. A united government (dictatorship, even) is good if it will is headed by people with a sound vision for the country and a concrete plan to achieve it. I just can’t see that in Noynoy.
please disregard the extra “will.” haha
“One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived”
Niccolo machiavelli
The 3 page advert in the inquirer today demonising corona and placing aquino alongside lincoln and roosevelt really is too laughable to be given credibility by anyone. Delusional or propaganda gone mad.
What? The dictator Aquino being equated to Lincoln and Roosevelt? I still say he is no legend. Just a preternatural myth known as a ghoul.
But compared to Alexander VI of Machiavelli’s time…?
Gees…I thought it was already bad that they were comparing him to Obama but now Lincoln and Roosevelt?!? OMG! This is the height of lunacy.
He’d better not compare himself to Teddy Roosevelt. The man was a grand imperialist who put the US on the path to power by staring down and taking on Big Business, made conservation of nature a state policy, and treated his constituents as Americans first and foremost.
Cory’s little boy is a grandstanding Tarlac yokel who’s dragging the Philippines to the Tarlac model, treating the country as a fiefdom and relying on the national idiocy of television drama to divert the people’s minds from the economic slowdown he generated.
I am neither a supporter of GMA or Noynoy. I don’t care about Corona either. I am Filipino taxpayer earning his keep for his family, community and country. These are my thoughts:
1. Corona should resign so our country can move on. The whole circus is a waste of time, resources and energy. The senators will use their red robes to further expose their stupidity, or take advantage of it to campaign. A few may perhaps surprise us and do something great. That is the price we pay to sustain a democracy – elect officials.
2. If and when Corona resigns, let “dictator” Noynoy consolidate his powers, create a blue print with his “KKK” and set directions for our country. He may not be an experienced manager, but we might as well support him (even if we believe he is stupid and de Quiros sucks). Hopefully, he makes a difference. If not, then probably Jinggoy, Bong, or Binay will succeed him. Ganyan talaga. Unless someone wants to lead a bloody/bloodless revolution to set up an authoritarian but benevolent regime to correct everything that is wrong with the Philippines. (That is a different debate…)
3. If the impeachment trial drags on, then let it be a playground we can feast on like the way the rest of the Filipinos enjoy Eat Bulaga, Wowowee, and TV Patrol. But in the meantime…
4. Let us continue to be vigilant. Whether you are Red, Yellow, a tambay, or a Kris Aquino fan, we are all Filipinos. Our children will inherit whatever legacy we leave behind. And they will judge us.
5. Educate. Correct. Speak up. Volunteer. Blog. Line up. Build on something. Not put down something. Be it a scholarship program, a feeding program, a cooperative, or even a clean-up program. The list goes on and on. Yan ang kulang sa Pinoy, we do not build.
6. Help create leaders for tomorrow. Whether they are your own kids, your driver’s kids, a tricycle driver, or your regular magtataho. We lack leaders. Good leaders. Period. Ateneo, UP, La Salle and the rest are failing in this aspect. We think a president will solve all our problems. Leadership can be taught and exemplified anywhere. In school, in the kanto, in a farm, in the forest, or even in a jeepney.
These are my thoughts as I follow the news, read various blogs, go to work, and help create a strong middle class. If I need to march to EDSA with my family for an EDSA 10, I would, if there is just cause. There will be a fork in the road if we don’t act now… bloody or peaceful. Take your pick. I have made my choice.
Mabuhay ang Pilipino.
@Manuel Foz!
You are just showing here how slow pinoya are at seeing the obvious—that you cannot squeeze crap hard enough and expect to it produce orange. Alchemy has long been debunked—You cannot turn base metal into gold!—A piece of turd like AbNoy only produces turd.
If AbNoy and cohorts win, there would be no justice, not only for the Hacienda Luisita farmers, but also for the Philippines as a whole. Pinoy society sold its soul to the devil thanks to mainstream media and to the political machinations of the Aquino-Cojuangcos and their benefactors. Victory over the Aquino-Cojuangcos could even be remembered as a historical achievement for our nation—it would stand as the triumph of evidence over media-perpetuated disinformation, half-truths, and public gossip.
The Aquino-Cojuangcos have always tried to hide the connection between Hacienda Luisita and their political manipulations. But the more they tried to hide this, the more the links become obvious.
@Manuel Foz
I am neither a supporter of GMA nor Noynoy. But I do care about how the prosecution team will treat Corona because what happens to him can happen to ordinary people. He is luckier, in fact, because he has top notch lawyers volunteering to defend him. What about ordinary people like you and I? We don’t have a chance at protecting our rights if behavior like Tupas and co. are tolerated. I don’t like the idea that people can just accuse me of wrongdoing without giving me a chance at clearing my name.
I personally think that every individual including Corona should have the right to defend himself. PNoy and his allies were the ones who initiated this circus not Corona. It is not Corona’s fault that taxpayers money are being wasted.
There is another option, Congress can drop the charges and it will be over. Most of the cases against Corona are weak anyway. They are just making a big deal of small things like his supposed 45 properties when he said he only owns five. How could he have enriched himself in his position when he’s only been chief justice since 2010? And the World Bank issue turned out to be false.
I can’t believe you just said that. Mentality like yours is the reason why the Philippines remains one of Asia’s basketcase. You are just promoting apathy and indifference.
We already know that PNoy is surrounded by mediocre people. They don’t even know how to fix the economy, so why should people trust him with full power? That’s just nuts! And if they want a dictatorship, they should be honest about it and not go around pretending they are for freedom and democracy.
Sorry, but you should not go around infecting people with your “ganyan talaga” mentality.
No. Even if it drags on, we must continue to voice our concern.
This contradicts your item number two. You should try and be more consistent. Do you want people to be vigilant or just shrug things off as “ganyan talaga?”
Just in case you haven’t noticed it yet, that’s what we are doing here. You may not think so but others appreciate our efforts. I appreciate my efforts. I gain a lot of insight from different people who participate here. By being aware of what is happening around me, what I need to do with my life and the people around me becomes crystal clear.
If you want to help create leaders of tomorrow, you can start by not spreading your “ganyan talaga” mentality.
If we follow the rule of law, there won’t be a need to march to Edsa. Seriously.
Thanks for your thoughts, anyway.
About item number 2, I can help comparing that this is the same method that Hitler used to combine and consolidate all powers of government under his control during his time and the fact that Mr. Manuel Foz wants Pnoy to have absolute power shows that some people don’t really have an idea that An absolute ruler has more cons than pros.
One more thing Mr. Manuel Foz you’re kind of thinking that the some one should have absolute power in order to bring order and prosperity to a country is the same kind of thinking that helped Hitler and his Nazi’s gain ascendancy and helped create the Third Reich.
Be careful of what you ask, for it may come to pass…..
Unfortunately, some people think that dictatorship or authoritarianism is a laughing matter. This is very serious. Just imagine your government being able to do as they please without the consent of the people. Well, slowly, our current government is heading towards that way already.
Manuel Foz, my hats off to you sir, what you stated is one of the best examples of what folks in this culture can do to take an active and responsible role for improving and changing their country. I hope and pray that you will continue to play and active role in encouraging and exhorting your fellow countrymen and woman to get off the sidelines and get in the game to be an active player and participant in doing something that will help to bring about change in the minds and hearts of the people and for this country!
Ilda,
My “Ganyan talaga” meant the democratic process of elections. I am surprised too that you have interpreted my contribution as promoting “apathy and indifference” and that you think I do not appreciate your efforts. On the contrary, I have encouraged others to visit this blogsite (you and benigno’s writings) as an alternative to the mainstream media. And to accuse me with words like “Mentality like yours is the reason why the Philippines remains one of Asia’s basketcase.” Whoa!I was wrong. You are just like de Quiros.
Sayang. Akala ko bright ka. Bye.
@Manuel
Sorry but there was only one way of interpreting “ganyan talaga”. Your item number two clearly indicates that you are accepting the likelihood of Jinggoy, Bong, or Binay eventually taking over Malacanang. And your only solution to stop that from happening is to have another revolution, which is wrong.
If you have been reading GRP, you should know by now that we do not advocate people power revolutions whether peaceful or bloody. We advocate for respecting our institutions and following the rule of law. We also advocate for the use of critical analysis in every situation, which includes voting for the right leaders.
Even if I disregard “ganyan talaga,” I will still think that your comment reeks of fatalism. And as Ilda mentioned your points contradict each other.
AbNoy has made the words “honest” and “popular” really sound dirty. They somehow connote something different under AbNoy’s regime.
People should really view those who keep insisting they are “honest” and “popular” with a bit more skepticism.
It’s like a person saying, “Lukatmi! I’m humble, I’m humble!” Wait, is here really humble.
Umm, “Wait is he* really humble?”
Parang high school lang ang ah! Popularity contest ba ang sinalihan niya? Akala ko kasi pagiging Presidente ng Pilipinas. Sana nag artista na lang sya sa channel 2.
I think the President should focus more on the economy at hindi tanggalin sa pwesto lahat ng inappoint ni GMA.Pati NBI pinakialaman na nya regardless makasira sya ng tao.Just to put his own appointees sa pwesto.If you look at the history nung napatalsik na NBI director.He was a very honorable person.It’s sad to say masyado sya ego tripping ang Presidente natin.I voted for him and I don’t think his compitent for that position and iba din na gusto mo patalsikin ang pinaka mataas na justice dahil sa mga nagawa nya or gusto lng nya mag appoint ng kaibigan or kamag anak sa position na yun.Im sad to say I made a terrible gudgement sa pag boto ko last election.I had much respect for Noynoy before.I expected he also has respect for other people.Sad to say di yun ang nakikita ko.
Sorry sa mga maling spelling.Wala pla edit or delete dito.I’m in a hurry kasi.
@Mix
Well at least you admit to your mistake. There are a lot of people who can’t even own up to it.
Good on you.
Sorry sa mga maling spelling.Wala pala edit or delete dito.I’m in a hurry kasi.
Saan kumakain ang squatter na kahit papaano ay may pera? sa turo-turo. Yan ang pinakamagandang plataporma ni Noynoy, magturo (point not teach). Mediocrity at its finest. (mediocrity/mediocre is an overrated understatement of a word on this blogsite, such as incompetent, why not use “unable”?) I’m sorry, but ever since, i never liked the yellows, i’ve always been of a red dude (minus the missus). I’d rather listen to a iron-hand leader with actually-know-it-all mind, than a pretends-to-be-an-iron-hand-persona with nothing-at-all-in-mind-but-young-women hollow head.
Last election, and up until today, I want the Gordon/BF tandem to happen, but didn’t push through, since the “bobong masa” don’t want to be disciplined, minus the color taste of BF, still, everything that they did for their hometowns is splendid, majority of the people don’t understand their intentions.
I believe that both of them have read and practices the concept of this quote:
“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.” – Confucius (i got it from anti-pinoy, and yes the quote should pretty much hit the Filipinos at its core)
MAN UP PILIPINAS!
Instead of looking for another Jesus to save our sorry-ass country, why not try to walk on yourself for a change, and sustain.
Way to go Ilda! Great posts! If I get more time, can i post my own selection of posts from the site on my FB? Thank you so much for your what I consider is a national service 🙂
I have reposted this on my wall with the following note…
An old article written by Ilda Pro for Get Real Philippines…unless we look beyond the media spin…we will slaves of our own ignorance. Today given the power of the net there i no more excuse to be ignorant.
Remember ignorance is the power that is used by tyrants…look at the 300 years of Spanish rule?
I will repeat…It is in our bet interest for PNOY to succeed. I may not agree with him but I will respect his mandate and his office. I only ask that in exchange less media spin is used by his government and more honest works…because in the end it will be history that will judge his presidency and not me.
Hi author, i appreciate your article so much as i too feel really ungrateful with the current administration (PNoy’s) because he is damn evil!! He promise better and quality life and yet what is his administration doing, killing us all. I am an OFW and honestly we feel burdened by their actions and continuously ignoring us. We would really appreciate if you will write an article for us OFW as we were constantly being ignored and we need eye opening articles such as this.. to give you an idea of what we are protesting, i would post a fb page link in this comment http://www.facebook.com/OFWVOICE
thanks.
Kung totoong popular pa si PNOY kahit pa maraming palpak na desisyon, ang galing naman ng Pinoy – masokista! Ang hapag na pagkain sa mesa ay popularidad ng Pangulo! Nakakabusog!
May I remind everyone that Adolf Hitler was extremely popular among his own people?